Barrington looks around at the destruction. “Damn, they sure did a number on this house.”
I wrap my arms around my waist, trying to keep my emotions from showing. “Yes, they did.”
Wilcox purposefully doesn’t look around the room and stares right at me. “Wonder what they were looking for.”
Not allowing him to intimidate me, I lock eyes with him. “When you catch them, you can ask. But I assume it was something relating to Blake.”
His eyebrows lift. “Oh yeah? You think so?”
I tilt my head to the side. “Detective, I think you know what kind of man my husband was. From what I understand, even worse than I thought, if what his business partner says is true. And there is, I’m sure, plenty that I’m not aware of.”
Barrington and Wilcox exchange a blank look. I’m sure whatever they’re silently communicating about me is less than flattering.
Before any of us can say anything else, Chris walks in from the hallway. His eyes narrow as he stomps toward us.
“So glad you two could show up. Are you ready to admit that there might actually be people other than Lily who could’ve killed Blake?” Chris snaps. “Whoever broke in was clearly looking for something. And that something has to do with that piece of shit, Blake.”
My eyes widen at Chris’s burst of anger. He had told me he was going to try to figure out some way to get their attention off me, but I could tell last night it was weighing on him. He seemed stressed and distracted. It seems today is no different.
I shift my eyes to Barrington and Wilcox to see how they’re taking it and am surprised to find two very different expressions. Wilcox looks mildly amused, and Barrington looks frustrated.
Wilcox lays a hand on his partner’s shoulder, presumably to calm him down, and asks, “Do we know it has to do with Blake, though?”
It’s my turn to try to dispel anger as I grab Chris’s forearm as he goes to take a menacing step forward. His bunched muscles feel like stone under my palm.
“Chris,” I warn under my breath, not wanting him to get in trouble with them for losing his cool.
He looks back at me. “No, Lily. I’m so sick of this shit. They refuse to acknowledge any other possible scenarios.”
It’s Barrington’s turn to take a step forward. “How the fuck would you know anything about this investigation? Maybe that pompous asshole Martinez is feeding you information. Is that it?”
“You called?” Carlos chirps.
All eyes shift across the room, where Carlos stands grinning, appearing not to care that he was just insulted.
Chris shoves his hands into the pockets of his slacks ashis friend approaches. “He hasn’t, but thanks for confirming that my suspicions were correct.”
Barrington whips around and glares at Chris. “I didn’t confirm shit. I was just saying you need to stop accusing us of not doing our goddamn jobs.”
Chris shrugs. “If the subpar performance fits...”
People use the expression that someone is so mad their head is about to explode, and rarely do they actually see someone who epitomizes it. But right now, looking at Barrington, I worry I should take cover.
Carlos steps between us and the detectives. With the protective stance, I reach over and run my hand down Chris’s back, his muscles no less tense than they were a few minutes before. Not wanting to draw any attention to us, I let my hand drop.
I tune out Carlos and Barrington going back and forth. A sudden wave of exhaustion overtakes my body.
Chris takes a step toward me. “Lily, are you okay?”
I blow out a breath. “Sorry, yeah. I just… I’m tired, I think.”
Frowning, Chris places his hand on my upper back and interrupts the argument occurring in front of us. “Gentlemen, this has been a barrel of laughs. Truly sad to miss the ending to whatever the fuck this is. But Lily is ready to get out of here. Carlos, can you make sure the cops lock up when they leave?”
With a soft press, he moves me forward.
When we’re a few feet past the detectives, Barrington asks, “And where will she be? In case we need to question her more?”
“You have my number, Barrington. Use it if you need to question my client,” Chris snaps over his shoulder.
